GAME REPORT

Zsofia Fegyverneky hit the crucial late free throws to seal a 65-61 victory for UE Sopron over Lattes Montpellier, clinching qualification for the next stage of EuroLeague Women.

With both teams scrapping for their playoff lives, a tense affair ensued at Palais des Sport de Lattes, the teams separated by only one point as Tianna Hawkins put the visitors ahead at the end of the first period.

BLMA were coming into the game on a terrible run, having lost the French Cup semi-final at the weekend as well as seven of their last eight EuroLeague Women matches. Geraldine Robert's lay-up put the French team ahead 22-21, but they never regained the lead after Fegyverneky responded with a three-pointer.

The hosts struggled to take care of the ball as UE Sopron pulled away towards the end of the third period, but an offensive drought lasting more than six minutes enabled Robert to tie the game at 55 with less than five minutes to go.

But BLMA saw their last chance for qualification slip away as shots wouldn't fall, with Fegyverneky scoring eight points including 6-for-6 free-throw shooting down the stretch to seal a Round 2 berth for the visitors.

Robert finished with a game-high 16 points, while French center Helena Ciak had nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Croatian international guard Iva Ciglar led UE Sopron with 14 points, and Fegyverneky and Hawkins added 13 apiece.

COACH QUOTES

UE Sopron Player Zsofia Fegyverneky "We're very happy with this win. It was one of our most difficult games, BLMA fought to the end. It's always hard to win in France, but we're delighted to qualify."

UE Sopron Head Coach Igor Polenek "I'm very satisfied. A lot of people were sceptical about the quality of this team. We now have a new challenge ahead of us. We knew that both teams would fight to win, but I think we showed more willingness to win. I told my team that the team which would win would be the one who showed more will to make sacrifices for the team."

BLMA Head Coach Valery Demory "It wasn't a problem of aggression or will to win. We didn't have enough rotations, but you can't win a EuroLeague Women match giving away 22 turnovers. We're tired with the accumulation of matches."

BLMA Player Geraldine Robert "It's a big disappointment because we could have won. We've now had three consecutive defeats, including two eliminations, and we're not used to that. We must now concentrate on the French League."

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COACH QUOTES

UE Sopron Player Zsofia Fegyverneky "We're very happy with this win. It was one of our most difficult games, BLMA fought to the end. It's always hard to win in France, but we're delighted to qualify."

UE Sopron Head Coach Igor Polenek "I'm very satisfied. A lot of people were sceptical about the quality of this team. We now have a new challenge ahead of us. We knew that both teams would fight to win, but I think we showed more willingness to win. I told my team that the team which would win would be the one who showed more will to make sacrifices for the team."

BLMA Head Coach Valery Demory "It wasn't a problem of aggression or will to win. We didn't have enough rotations, but you can't win a EuroLeague Women match giving away 22 turnovers. We're tired with the accumulation of matches."

BLMA Player Geraldine Robert "It's a big disappointment because we could have won. We've now had three consecutive defeats, including two eliminations, and we're not used to that. We must now concentrate on the French League."